Universal Remote Control RF20 Video Preview with MRF100B
Universal Remote Control RF20 Video Review
Summary
- Product Name: RF20 Remote with MRF100B Receiver
- Manufacturer: Universal Remote Control
- Review Date: October 19, 2010 09:55
- MSRP: $$79.99 w/o MRF100B
- First Impression: Gotta Have It!
- Specifications
-
- LCD Size: .875" x 1.875"
- Size: 8.5" x 2.5" x 1" (L x W x H)
- Weight: 8 oz (with batteries)
- Learning Capabilities: 720 IR commands at standard frequencies (15 kHz to 100 kHz)
- Macro Capabilities: 472 macro and favorite channel buttons (up to 190 steps each)
- RF Freq: 418 MHz
- Range: RF - 50 to 100 feet / IR - 30 to 50 feet. Approximate range will vary depending upon operational and environmental conditions
- Power Supply: 4 AAA alkaline batteries (included)
- Warranty: One year parts & labor
Executive Overview
Remote controls are funny. You don't realize how important they are until you use a really good one... that's not yours... then you get remote envy. It's not pretty. One of the solutions is Universal Remote's RF20. Now there are several things that make this remote stand out, but the most visual thing is that it has a backlit LCD screen that can be customized to control up to 10 different devices.
The remote comes pre-programmed to operate virtually all brands of equipment. It can also do macros, which is like having the remote issue a bunch of commands to your gear in a row so that it turns itself on properly and starts playing a DVD, for example.
Programming is pretty easy, you just push the Main and Enter buttons at the same time for three seconds until the word Setup appears on the LCD screen. Then, you can choose whether you are going to select from the pre-programmed codes, or learn some custom codes from an existing remote. We found the preprogrammed database to be quite extensive, and it handled most of our equipment, but this remote has been out a while and actually lacks specific Blu-ray device codes, so you may want to do some customization and learning to get all of the functions you need - like the PopUp menu and four colored buttons used in many of the new BD player menu systems.
Using this remote to replace several of your device remotes is fairly simple, but what we liked was the ability to customize the LCD screen options to enable macros features to be run right from the top screen. In this way we could have the "TV" button power up our AV receiver, television and cable box and get us on the correct input. In the same way, the "DVD" button could reassign all inputs to watch a movie.
One other thing that makes this remote unique is its Favorite Channel Setup. What this does is use a built-in system for setting up your most popular TV channels (up to 40) where they can be selected by a single button push. With today's 3- and 4-digital cable channels, why have to type all that in to jump around? It does take some setting up, but in the end it's well worth the effort and you have a really powerful remote that's easy to use.
Now the last thing. This isn't just a regular infrared remote. It also supports RF (radio frequency) signals. That means that if you have your gear in a closet, or a cabinet, you can use Universal Remote's MRF-100B RF receiver to get signals from the remote and translate that into commands your equipment can understand. The MRF-100B comes with 6 mini IR emitters that can connect to your gear and pass the signal from the remote - all without having to have that equipment be visible or out in the open. Powerful? Yes.
The RF20 costs $80 and operates on 4 AAA batteries and will run for quite a while provided you don't have a three year-old in the house that likes to press the light button non-stop while they watch an hour of Astro Boy. Come to think of it, just have some extra batteries on hand... The MRF-100B is a $60 add-on but given how useful it is, you'll wonder how you did without it. With both devices you have an entire RF remote package for just $140. Highly recommended.
Recent Forum Posts:
Patrukas777;776611
Anyone know how I could use this controller with my PS3?
Patrukas777;778017
I take that as a NO
Check this page out:
http://www.schmartz.com/category/45507241981/1/Shop-Schmartz-United-States.htm [schmartz.com]
I have my eye on the 1000. It can teach your remote commands. It's a little pricey though but, for complete universal remote integration, I don't see a better option.
Hope that helps.
I always thought the RF20 was just a less-featured version of the MX-350 based on my reading of the RF20 manual and actual experience with the MX-350. It actually has a few crippling limitations and if my mx-350 ever dies, I definitely will NOT be downgrading to save a few bucks.
1. While you can punch vol, ch, play, and vod controls to MAIN just like the mx-350, you cannot use the on/off buttons on MAIN as system-wide power on/off macros and retain individual power control in each of the device modes. Having vol, ch, play, and vod controls on MAIN is of dubious value, but the ability to have system wide power control macros from MAIN is very useful (it is after all the 'main' menu and hence starting point for turning everything on!).
If you setup a macro to turn everything on using the on button on MAIN, that macro will run in every single device mode, thus you no longer have individual power control in each device mode. It's like the old MX-500 where you get to choose to use the on/off buttons for system wide macros or individual power buttons in each device mode; if you choose system wide power control, you have to add on/off buttons to the LCD for each device OR choose individual power buttons for each device mode and add an 'all on' type macro on some other LCD page.
2. It is dog slow because it sends IR and RF at the same time. There is no way to turn the RF off or choose between IR and RF (or both) for individual device modes as you can on the mx-350. The mx-350 and mrf-260 works flawlessly for me.
This turned out to be a big problem because FAV channels are really just macros. Because it is so slow, pressing a FAV button with a channel macro like '-3-8-4' results in the cable box choosing channel 3 - every single time!
Even if you don't setup the RF basestation it is still too slow when pointing directly at the cable box because it appears to send '3' by IR, then '3' by RF, then '8' by IR, then '8' by RF, etc. Sometimes it will tune to the first channel number then a second later tune to the second channel number. Under no circumstance will it ever see the 3rd number in the sequence which I suppose is a blessing since it's frustrating enough to have it tune to the first and second numbers in the sequence.
I realize this may not be the case for all cable boxes, but with their Motorola DVR, it is absolutely unusable.
3. It couldn't learn repeating commands from the cable box remote (most likely a 'toggle bit' type command where the command only varies by the least significant bit which indicates 'do the same thing again'.)
I had to use the mx-350 to teach the RF20 those commands so that when you hold down the cursor buttons the guide will scroll rapidly. Same deal for volume control of the receiver.
So I'm a bit disappointed in trying to save my sister a few bucks. I worked around the limitations and they are back in business. The press-and-hold macros work the same and that was great but the RF is a no-go.
